Rifle-target.



I- No.y 891,566. PATENTED JUNE 23, 1908.

C. REID.

RIFLE TARGET..

PPLIOATIONPILBD JUNB1s,.19o7..

UNITED lSTAT-*Es PATENT oEEroE.

CHARLES REID, OF DUBLIN, IRELAND.

RIFLE-TARGET.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES REID, a British subject, and resident of Dublin, Ireland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rifle-Targets, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to rifle targets and has for its object to provide a simple and cheaply erected apparatus for carrying two targets, or a target and dummy, in balanced arrangement, avoiding the necessity for clearance pits, as heretofore generally required and for the attainment ofvarious conveniences and advantages as hereinafter mentioned or rendered apparent.

The invention cqnsists in a pair of rifle targets, in balanced arrangement, and double and oppositely arranged pairs of intermediately fulcrumed levers, on the extremities of which the targets are each pivotally connected at two points of each of their edges.

The invention may be otherwise stated as consisting in a target apparatus comprising,

' in coperative combination, opposite u right supports, opposite pairs of aral el bars, those of each pair being pivota ly supported at their middle portions by said uprights, at points one over another and for swinging movements, in parallelism, in vertical planes, and a pair of target-frames which are disposedlbetween, and by their opposite edges pivotally supported at separate points respectively to the forward and rearward end portions of said opposite pairs of parallel bars, whereby said target frames, moved to raised, or lowered positions lon their carrying bars, are maintained in vertical planes. And the invention furthermore consists in certain particular forms and construction of parts and the combination or arrangement thereof all substantially as hereinafter fully described and set forth in the claims.

being indicated by line 3 3, Fig. l. Fig. 5

Specification of Letters Patent.

- Application filed `Tune 13, 1907.

Patented June 23, 1908.

Serial No. 378,733.

vertical slots b below the first named slot a.

B' B represent a pair of parallel, transverse, and horizontal shafts extending between, and pivotally supported for rocking movementson, the uprights A A. As speciiically constructed these rock shafts are cross sectionally square excepting at their end portions where they are made round and witi necked down formations as indicated at The upper rocking bar B may be slid to place by having its necked down end portions entered within the open ends of the 'slots a and then moved to the base of the latter. The lower rocking bar has its end portions similarly engaged in the enlarged upper ends b2 of the slots l), said bar being then slid downwardly Vuntil its end portions rest in the U shaped bearing pieces b3 as shown more particularly in Fig. 5.

C C represent two oppositely located pairs of parallel bars, each having a central squared aperture f for acquiring a non rotative engagement with the squared rocking shaft on which it is to be mounted. One of the bars C of a pair adjacent and inside of A one of the uprights is centrally affixed on the upper rocking shaft while the other bar of the same pair is similarly aiixed on the lower rocking shaft, both bars being confined in place, in the same plane and in parallel relations by the set screws g or other fastening.

D D represent two target frames having provided on opposite edge portions thereof blocks 7L made with trunnions i projecting beyond the edges of the frames and pivotally engaging in holes j which are provided therefor in the adjacent end portions of the pairs of parallel bars C C. The trunnion blocks 71 '11 may have their locations at the opposite edges of each target frame, two thereof in axial alinernent near or below the horizontal central line of the targets and the other two vthereof at or near the bottom of the target.

In the drawings in Fig. l, by dotted lines at a', y, are represented a shield and embankment on the range directly in front of the target for the protection of the person acting to spot the shots and to signal or report the shots or hits.

The target D articulated on what may be regarded as the forward ends of the oscillatory double pairs of bars C C is shown in the drawings in its fully elevated position while the other target which is similarly articulated on what may be regarded as the rear end of the double pairs of oscillatory bars is shown as in its fully lowered position, both targets being maintained in parallel vertical planes transversely of the line of the rifle range.

The dotted lines in Fig. l showing the one target half lowered and the rear target half raised indicate the continued maintenance of the parallel arrangement of the target which is preserved at all times, and whether the targets are in extremes of their raised and lowered positions or in any intermediate positions.

The target frame may advantageously be in the form of open rectangular frames receiving target coverings which may be of canvas, or paper, or combinations thereof, or other flexible or suitable material stretched over the frames and secured thereon by tacks, adhesive material or otherwise.

The entire apparatus or nearly all thereof may be constituted of wood, although in practice it is deemed preferable to constitute the rocking shafts B B and upright supports A A of metal.

If after protracted use the target frames become badly shot up, they may be readily replaced by new target frames engaged as described by their trunnions in sockets at the extremities of the bars C C; and if the bars become badly shattered they may be replaced in their supporting engagement on the rocking shaft,-the before described slot formations in the uprights permitting convenient disconnection of all of the parts and reconnection thereof in replacement.

To remove a target frame and put in a new one, in many cases it will only be required to loosen the set screws g g and slide the bars C C to greater. separation so that the bar sockets y' are drawn away from engagement with the target frame trunnions,-reversing the operations for the mounting of the new target. Or it is possible, as might be required for very wide targets, to disengage the bars C C from the rocking shafts, the pos sibility of which has been heretofore rendered apparent under which circumstances entire freedom is afforded to take out the one target and substitute therefor another with capabilities for the movements and control thereof described. i

The one target is counterbalanced by the other and while the one is up in sight to be shot at, the other is lowered to a safe position to be spotted, or to have a fresh target covering stretched thereon.

I claim l.. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, opposite upright supports, o posite pairs of arallel bars, those of eac 1 pair being ivota ly supported at their middle portions by said uprights, at points one over another and for swinging movements, in parallelism, in vertical planes, and a pair of target-frames which are disposed between, and by their opposite edges pivotally supported at separate points respectively to the forward and rearward end portions of said opposite pairs of parallel bars, whereby said target frames, moved to raised,`l lowered, or intermediate positions, on their carrying bars, are maintained invariably in vertical planes.

2. The combination with opposite upright supports having vertically upwardly opening slots in their u per portions and also having vertical slots below said first named slots, of a pair of parallel transverse shafts having necked down portions engaging and normally seated in the lower ends of said slots, opposite pairs of parallel bars each having a central aperture for engagement with said rock shafts, means for confining said bars on said rock shafts, and a pair of target frames edgewise pivotally supported at separate points respectively to the forward and rearward end portions of said opposite pairs of parallel bars.

3. The combination with opposite upright sup orts having vertical upward y o ening s ots in their upper portions and aso having vertical slots below said first named slots, of a pair of parallel transverse shafts having neck down ortions engaging and normally seated in the ower ends of said slots, opposite pairs of parallel bars each having a central aperture for engagement with said rock shafts, means for confining said bars on said rock shafts, and a pair of target frames having provided on opposite edge portions blocks made with trunnions projecting beyond the edges of the frames', and ivotally engaging in holes, which are provided therefor, in end portions of said parallel bars.

4. In an apparatus of the type set forth, in combination a pair of upright supporting posts, two pairs of coextensive bars, means for supporting eachbar pivotally at its center, the bars of each pair being arranged one above the other with their pivots on a line coincident with the axis of the adjacent post and two target frames su ported at relatively opposite ends of the lbars, each frame having pivotal supports from the mutually adjacent bar end portions by which said frame is carried.

5. In an apparatus of the ty e set forth, allel at all points along the pivotal travel of 10 suplporting means7 bars pivote in pairs at the bars. eac sidetliereof, the pivots of all of said bars .Signed by me at Ely' Place, Dublin, in being loeateol at ixed poinltls on stid supportpresence of tWo subscribing Witnesses. 5 in@ means7 the bars of eac air iavin ivotil movement in a commoii vertical alne, CHARLES REID' target frames, and connections for the target Witnesses: frames with the pairs of bars, constructed to DUE. POWER STEELE, permit of the planes of said frames being par- JOHN GEORGE DUNN. 

